Reasons to Celebrate Today: Sale-A-Bration 2024, A New Mini Catalogue And 2 New KitsToo

by Joanne James4. January 2024 09:00

Happy New Year everyone! I took an extended blog break over Christmas to spend time with family and loved every minute of it. That said, it's the 4th January and time for a new mini-catalogue and our 2024 Sale-A-Bration promotion so today I'm back to tell you all about it! Once again this year there will be only one Sale-A-Bration promotion: it runs from today until 29th February. You can click on the catalogue on the right hand side of my blog page or below to access the Sale-A-Bration leaflet to download a copy or click on the icon above or on the right to go directly to my online shopto place an order - we are LIVE!

 

So how does Sale-A-Bration work? For anyone who hasn't come across it before, it's Stampin' Up!'s annual promotion that is loaded with offers whether you shop, join or host.

 

You can earn a free Sale-A-Bration product for every £45 you spend between 4 January and 29 February. There is also the opportunity to earn even bigger rewards with a £90 purchase. It's the perfect time to purchase those products you've had on your wish list and earn more products for FREE! 

 

If you host a party or place an individual order with purchases of £275 or more, you can choose an additional £27.50 of products in addition to your standard rewards for FREE!

It’s also one of the best times of the year to join Stampin’ Up! There are two fabulous joining options during this year's Sale-A-Bration promotion: 

 

  • OPTION 1: Spend £99 and receive £130 of product of your choice and a Stampin' Glass Mat Studio (retail value £56)

CUST_FTR_JOIN_L2_US_0124_SAB_GO_LIVE

The Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio is a paper crafter’s dream! The heavy-duty glass mat comes printed with a ruler and grid lines for easy measuring, while the large surface space gives ample room for spreading out while paper crafting. The safety-tempered glass has a heat and scratch resistant surface that wipes clean with the included cloth and water—no chemicals needed. The reusable cloth also cleans ink off your stamps! The nonslip, heat resistant, waterproof silicone mat features four palette squares for mixing custom ink colours or for holding small ink spots in place while crafting. Each component can be used separately or you can use all three items together for a multipurpose paper crafting studio that’s both functional and elegant. 

The Stampin’ Glass Mat Studio includes:

GLASS MAT
* 5 mm thick
* 17" x 14" (43.2 x 35.6 cm)
* Safety-tempered
* Heat and scratch resistant
* Wipes clean with water or alcohol
SILICONE MAT
* 8-3/8" x 6" (21.3 x 15.2 cm) 
* Multiuse, nonslip
* Waterproof, heat resistant
* 4 palette squares for custom-colour mixing or holding Stampin’ Spots
* Product colour: white
CLEANING CLOTH
* 8-1/4" x 8-1/4" (21 x 21 cm) 
* Durable, reusable
* Lint free
* Cleans stamps and other surfaces with only water
* Product colour: dark grey

If the Stampin' Glass mat Studio isn't of interest to you, you might prefer the following alternative:

  • OPTION 2: Spend £99 and receive £160 of product of your choice.

There is plenty of choice and flexibility, whether you want to be a hobby demonstrator and just use your discount to enable you to purchase craft supplies more cheaply, or alternatively would like to build a flourishing direct sales business and sell supplies to others - it's entirely up to you. Above all else, it's a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals united through a common love of crafting.

If you would like to host a virtual or in-person party, please do get in touch. Equally if you've ever thought about becoming an SU! demonstrator, now is a great time to do so - I would love to have a no-obligation chat with you about joining my team and the benefits.

As if that wasn't enough, today also sees the launch of the new January-April 2024 mini catalogue - full of gorgeous new products:

 

Just click on the image above or in the sidebar on the right to browse the catalogue online, or contact me on 07773 421446 if you would like a paper copy posted out to you and you don't already have a demonstrator; paper copies have been sent to my regular customers. If you are as excited as me and just can't wait, here's the link to my online store - everything is available to purchase from today!

Finally, two new kits have also been added to the online store today:

 

Create handmade cards for all the rockstars in your life with the Rock Legend Kit! This all-occasion paper crafting kit comes with everything you need to make cards that totally rock. Get crafting with die-cut paper pieces of electric guitars, lightning bolts, stars, and other fabulous designs. Make eight cards (four each of two designs) with bold colours and pre-printed sentiments to celebrate birthdays and more!

The kit costs £14 and includes:
*Pre-designed projects
*Step-by-step instructions
*Pre-cut pieces (No prep work! Get right to crafting)
*Printed sentiment labels in Dutch, English, French, and German
*Makes 8 cards: 4 each of 2 designs
*Folded card size: 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" (14 x 10.8 cm)
*8 pre-printed envelopes
*Enough adhesive to complete projects
*Adhesive-Backed Star Embellishments
*A 9-7/8" x 6-1/2" x 1-3/4" (25.1 x 16.5 x 4.4 cm) printed designer box for storage or crafting on the go

 

Send adorable cards filled with love with the Panda Friends Kit! These irresistible pandas are perfect for celebrating love and friendship throughout the year. This kit includes cards in two different sizes to keep your crafting versatile and fresh. Use the pre-printed sentiments to make quick multiples and send happy hello greetings to those you care about!

This kit also costs £14 and it includes:
*Pre-designed projects
*Step-by-step instructions
*Pre-cut pieces (No prep work! Get right to crafting)
*Printed sentiment labels in Dutch, English, French, and German
*Makes 8 cards: 4 each of 2 designs
*Folded card size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" (10.8 cm x 14 cm), 8-1/2" x 3-1/2" (21.6 cm x 8.9 cm)
*8 pre-printed envelopes
*Enough adhesive to complete all projects
*Iridescent Sequin Embellishments
*A 9-7/8" x 6-1/2" x 1-3/4" (25.1 x 16.5 x 4.4 cm) printed designer box for storage or crafting on the go.

If you would like more information on any of the above, please don't hesitate to get in touch! 

Thanks so much for popping by - it's always nice to share good news! Back tomorrow with a creative post that uses some exciting new product! That post will go live at noon. Until then, happy shopping!

 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Three Reasons to Celebrate Today: Sale-A-Bration And A New Mini Catalogue And A New Kit Too

by Joanne James5. January 2023 07:00

It's the 5th January and time for a new mini-catalogue and our Sale-A-Bration promotion! This year there will be only one Sale-A-Bration promotion: it runs from today until 28th February. You can click on the catalogue on the right hand side of my blog page or below to access the Sale-A-Bration leaflet to download a copy or click on the icon above or on the right to go directly to my online shopto place an order - we are LIVE!

 

So how does Sale-A-Bration work? For anyone who hasn't come across it before, it's Stampin' Up!'s annual promotion that is loaded with offers whether you shop, join or host. You can earn a free Sale-A-Bration product for every £45 you spend between 5 January and 28 February. There is also the opportunity to earn even bigger rewards with a £90 purchase. It's the perfect time to purchase those products you've had on your wish list and earn more products for free! 

It’s also one of the best times of the year to join Stampin’ Up! There is are three fabulous joining options during this year's Sale-A-Bration promotion: 

 

  • OPTION 1: Spend £99 and receive £170 of product of your choice.
  • OPTION 2: Spend £125 and receive £170 of product of your choice and an exclusive limited edition Boho Blue Mini Cut & Emboss Machine
  • OPTION 3: Spend £125 and receive £170 of product of your choice and a white Mini Cut & Emboss Machine

There is plenty of choice and flexibility, whether you want to be a hobby demonstrator and just use your discount to enable you to purchase craft supplies more cheaply, or alternatively would like to build a flourishing direct sales business and sell supplies to others - it's entirely up to you. Above all else, it's a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals united through a common love of crafting.

Hosting is also even more rewarding during Sale-A-Bration. When you host a party and reach a certain amount in sales (see the Stampin’ Rewards chart in the Sale-A-Bration brochure for more information), you can earn a free stamp set!

Even if you reaches the qualifying amount on your own outside of a party, you can earn the same free stamp set too, both in person and when shopping in my online store. What's more, you can even apply your Stampin' Rewards to a Starter Kit and become a demonstrator yourself - I would love to welcome you to my team!

If you would like to host a virtual party, please do get in touch. Equally if you've ever thought about becoming an SU! demonstrator, now is a great time to do so - I would love to have a no-obligation chat with you about joining my team and the benefits.

As if that wasn't enough, today also sees the launch of the new January-April 2023 mini catalogue - full of gorgeous new products:

 

Just click on the image above or in the sidebar on the right to browse the catalogue online, or contact me on 07773 421446 if you would like a paper copy posted out to you and you don't already have a demonstrator; paper copies have been sent to my regular customers. If you are as excited as me and just can't wait, here's the link to my online store - everything is available to purchase from today!

Finally, a new kit has also been added to the online store today:

 

Say thank you to the people who make your day, every day with the Saying Thanks all-inclusive card kit! This month’s kit has everything you need to show appreciation to family and friends who light up your life! Make nine bright, colourful cards in no time to say thank you, recognise friends, and share your gratitude with a bright watercolour wash that won’t go unnoticed! You’ll never miss an opportunity to express gratitude with this colourful kit!

This kit retails at £13 and includes:

  • Enough supplies to create 9 cards—3 each of 3 designs—and 9 coordinating envelopes.
  • Printed and foil die-cut words, pre-cut pieces, and enough adhesive to complete projects.
  • White bakerʼs twine and iridescent diamond sequins.
  • Finished card size: 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" (14 x 10.8 cm).
  • Coordinating colours: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade, Tahitian Tide.

If you would like more information on any of the above, please don't hesitate to get in touch! 

Thanks so much for popping by - it's always nice to share good news! Back later today with today's creative post that uses some exciting new product! That post will go live at 0900 GMT. Until then, happy shopping!

Just Saying Hello with Simply Fabulous CCS 490

by Joanne James4. October 2022 12:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. We are starting a new month and the lovely Michal is our host for October. We are starting the month with a colour challenge: 

     

For my card today I decided to use the sketch design (but not the colours/inspo photo) over at Fusion for a bright and cheery card that has a distinctly summery feel - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I thought Michal's colour choices were perfect for a bold flower and sentiment, courtesy of my favourite 'Simply Fabulous' stamp set. I stamped them onto a diecut circle and used a sunny Daffodil Delight card base, with a piece of 'Celebrate Everything' gingham paper across the top of the panel. I resisted the urge to add some white baker's twine and finished my flower centre with nothing more than an enamel dot embellishment:

 

A co-ordinating flower on my envelope and inside complete this easy card. 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

As a reminder, for our colour challenges, you must use all of the stated challenge colours. You may also use neutral colours; however, the challenge colours should be the most noticeable ones featured on your card. We use Stampin' Up! color names for reference, but you are welcome to use any other companies' products as long as you match the challenge colours as closely as possible.

Enjoy your day; I'm having a desk day as there is lots of Stampin' Up! news to impart so I've quite a few posts to write - and of course there's shopping to take advantage of today's free shipping offer - yay! I'll be back on Thursday with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Celebrate Everything Merry And Bright AYSI 284

by Joanne James23. September 2022 12:00

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for my favourite, a sketch challenge:

    

I love a good sketch, but I don't mind admitting this week's card was a struggle! Too little craft time and a chaotic craft room are not a good mix, so with my card making deadline looming, I was feeling the pressure. A few failed attempts and I decided therefore that simple would be best. I had seen the inspiration photo earlier in the day over at The Card Concept (there are actually two now for their second challenge of the month - fun!) and whilst I wasn't inspired by the travel theme, I loved their first inspo photo of brightly coloured stylised prints and the one for Bali was the inspiration for my card design today. The bold colours on a dramatic black background with bright pink floral accents led me to grab another of the designs in the 'Celebrate Everything' designer series paper pack and pull together a simple clean and layered Christmas card - take a look:

  

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I cut a panel of this brightly patterned paper, double mounted it onto Polished Pink and Shaded Spruce, and added it to a Basic Black cardbase. I added a sentiment from the 'Candy Canes Christmas' stamp set that seemed to fit this bold, fun design and accented it with a couple of diecut holly leaves (taken from the retired Poinsettia Dies, as they were just the right shape and style). I added some detail to the embossed lines with a Shaded Spruce marker to echo the holly design on the paper and finished with a trio of large red glittery enamel dot berries, taken from my stash:

So what do you think? Are you a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas colour schemes or do you like to break the mold every now and again and go with something more contemporary? I admit a black card base is not my usual Christmas card 'go to', but I think it works. I'm not sure I'm going to win any awards with this one (haha!) and the design team over at As You See It have created some AMAZING cards with this sketch, so you should definitely check those out. One thing's for sure I love the 'Celebrate Everything' designer series paper pack - this is definitely the paper that keeps on giving!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging project that fits the challenge.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can leave you lots of lovely comments. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSIXXX when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab on the As You See It Challenge homepage.
  • In a sketch challenge, you are welcome to rotate or flip a sketch. You can replace shapes used such as substituting a circle panel for a square panel. However, we must be able to still see the basis of the original sketch in your finished product.
We look forward to seeing your creations in the AYSI gallery.

Enjoy your day; I'm off to a funeral - the wet and gloomy day definitely is reflective of that mood. I am hoping to be back in my craft room tomorrow though, so will hopefully be ready to share another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

New 2022 Sale-A-Bration Items Added

by Joanne James7. August 2022 15:58

Just a quick post with additional information out this week: you all know that this year's second Sale-A-Bration promotion will end on 31st August and in addition to hosting and joining benefits (you can read about those here) you also earn a free product for every £45/90 spend - you can see the existing items here. Now there's more good news: from now until the 31st August, you will also be able to choose from a number of other items (you must use the special code as detailed as opposed to the usual item code to get one of these items free with a £45/90 spend):

 

If you would like more information or to place an order, go here to purchase from my online store (don't forget to add this month's hostess code 6SQFH49A). 

Remember as with all items offered as part of the Sale-A-Bration promotion, they are only available whilst stocks last. Currently all items are still available, however current stock levels suggest that a number of the original items will have run out before the end of the month.

Back soon with a new creative project; until then, happy shopping!

Seasons Of Fun Christmas Card PP571

by Joanne James12. December 2021 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's our last challenge of the year and it's the turn of the fabulous LeAnne to host this week. She has a festive colour challenge for you to work with:

    

I decided to pair this week's colours with the current sketch over at Try Stamping on Tuesday to use a stamp that I've not yet had the opportunity to ink up, even though I've used each of the other stamps in the same set - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

A Colour Confession - First up - I have a confession to make! I had decided on my stamp and layout, so gathered my supplies and various ribbons and accessories that would work for my card and set to work. I completed my card and went to upload it then realised my oversight - I had used Cherry Cobbler instead of Merry Merlot! I had the colour banner in my mind but hadn't double-checked it before I started; a rookie mistake and my only defence is that I really have had one of those weeks! I had no time to remake, so I hope LeAnne forgives me and you can imagine how the same card would look in a slightly darker shade of red. What can I say - I think it's time for a Christmas break!

Seasons of Fun - I used the image of the sweet little girl pulling her sled and tiny Christmas tree on the front of my tailored tag. This is the final image in the 'Seasons of Fun' hostess set that I had yet to use and I think it's so sweet, I just had to use it on today's card. I stamped it twice, once directly onto my tag and a second time, so that I could fussy cut the little girl's hat and scarf so that I could layer these and extend the image beyond the boundaries of the tag. I left my card sentiment-free and also added some stars and a stamped image of the little Christmas tree inside:

Sometimes I like to leave clear space to write, even on a Christmas card, when often I'm writing to someone I haven't seen in a long time.

Touches of Gold - I incorporated lots of gold elements into today's card: the (retired) plaid banners, the gold-edged Cherry Cobbler ribbon tied with gold twine, the gold holly leaves and some (retired) gold Wink of Stella for the star on top of the Christmas tree:

I love the addition of the gold to the festive red and green and switching out the usual white for vanilla adds a lovely warmth to this cute Christmas card. The 'Seasons of Fun' host stamp set is still available, so if you have your eye on it now is the time to order - it will disappear for good when the current July-December catalogue ends on 3rd January.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day; today we are spending the day fully embracing our Christmas preparations at home, with tree trimming and festive baking planned - yum! I'll be back soon with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Amaryllis Abloom Christmas Card CCS 447

by Joanne James23. November 2021 13:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & SketchesThis week's challenge is a sketch challenge and I designed the following sketch for us to work with:

       

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. There are so many ways you can use a simple vertical panel; for my card today I decided to use the 'Amaryllis Abloom' stamp set, one of two host sets in the current mini catalogue, and use the vertical element to showcase a fabulous amaryllis bloom - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

The 'Amaryllis Bloom' stamp set is a stamp set that is exclusively available to purchase using hostess rewards when you either host a Stampin' Up! party or place an order of £150 or more. It can be found on page 78 of the mini catalogue, along with the 'Seasons of Fun' stamp set, and is only available for the duration of this catalogue sales period, i.e. until 3rd January. The flowers in the 'Amaryllis Abloom' stamp set comprise a soft, almost watercoloured stamp element and a line drawn flower with leaves. It's not a two-step step stamp, in as much as the softer stamps don't fit the line drawn image to 'colour' it; each of the elements is a standalone. I decided to use the softer stamps from the bottom of my card upwards, and stamped both flowers and leaves, some of them stamped off directly onto my card base. I then stamped the lined image in Versamark onto vellum and heat embossed it with black embossing powder, then coloured the image on the reverse using my Stampin' Blends then fussy cut this piece and added this to the centre of my floral display. I heat embossed my sentiment, from the same set, and added a few clear sequins to complete my card.

Whilst my flower follows the contours of the vertical panel of the sketch, I stamped it directly onto my white card base and it extends beyond them; I used a double scored line to add additional detail without detracting from the flower - you can see them slightly better on the angled shot below:

 

This is quite an unusual style of card for me, but I quite like it - the vellum flower is so shiny in real life.

I have a real soft spot for amaryllis, especially at this time of year. My grandfather was an amazing gardener and he had a wonderful collection of amaryllis. I loved finding new varieties in unusual colours to gift him at Christmas time as he was always thrilled to have a new addition to his collection. My personal favourite is still a traditional bold red one though - whilst my grandfather is long gone, every time I see one of these flowers they bring back wonderful memories of him. 

I am also linking today's card up over at The Flower Challenge where they are asking for 'flowers with leaves' and at Global Design Project where the theme is 'Christmas'.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

A New Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue AND A Second Sale-A-Bration!

by Joanne James3. August 2021 09:00

So many reasons to celebrate today - or should I say, Sale-A-Brate?!

First up, we have a new mini catalogue, with everything you need for your seasonal and festive crafting, to take you from autumn, through to Halloween, Christmas and beyond! Here is the new mini catalogue, in all its festive glory:

Just click on the image above or in the sidebar on the right to browse the catalogue online, or contact me on 07773 421446 if you would like a paper copy posted out to you and you don't already have a demonstrator; paper copies have been sent to my regular customers. If you are as excited as me and just can't wait, here's the link to my online store - everything is available to purchase from today!

And as if that wasn't enough, we get a second bite of the Sale-A-Bration cherry this year too, with our second 2 month long Sale-A-Bration promotion! Starting from today 3rd August until 30th September, you can once again get more bang for your buck when you shop, host or join. You can click on the catalogue on the right hand side of my blog page or below to access the Sale-A-Bration leaflet to download a copy or click on the icon above or on the right to go directly to my online shopto place an order - we are LIVE!

 

So a reminder of how Sale-A-Bration works: for anyone who hasn't come across it before, it's Stampin' Up!'s annual promotion that is loaded with offers whether you shop, join or host. You can earn a free Sale-A-Bration product for every £45 you spend between 3 August and 30 September. There is also the opportunity to earn even bigger rewards with a £90 purchase. It's the perfect time to purchase those products you've had on your wish list and earn more products for free! Here's a link to a video from the nice people at the Home Office that lets you see each of those free products up close in more detail:

I hope that was useful and rest assured I will be sharing plenty of additional projects on my blog in the next few weeks that show these items in more detail. 

 

It’s also one of the best times of the year to join Stampin’ Up! There is a fabulous joining option during this year's Sale-A-Bration promotion: as usual, you can become a demonstrator for just £99 and choose £130 of FREE products for your Starter Kit. In addition to an extra £31 worth of product in your starter kit, you can select an additional one of 12 bundles FOR FREE. Here are the bundles that you are able to choose from:

There couldn’t be a better time to join the Stampin’ Up! family. Plus, the whole kit ships for free! There is plenty of choice and flexibility, whether you want to be a hobby demonstrator and just use your discount to enable you to purchase craft supplies more cheaply, or alternatively would like to build a flourishing direct sales business and sell supplies to others - it's entirely up to you. 

Hosting is also even more rewarding during Sale-A-Bration. When you host a party and reach a certain amount in sales (see the Stampin’ Rewards chart in the Sale-A-Bration brochure for more information), you can earn a free stamp set - this time the 'In Your Words' stamp set shown above. Even if your order reaches the qualifying amount on your own outside of a party, you can earn the same free stamp set too, both in person and when shopping in my online store. What's more, you can even apply your Stampin' Rewards to a Starter Kit and become a demonstrator yourself - I would love to welcome you to my team!

If you would like to host a virtual party, please do get in touch. Equally if you've ever thought about becoming an SU! demonstrator, now is a great time to do so - I would love to have a no-obligation chat with you about joining my team and the benefits.

If you would like more information on any of the above, please don't hesitate to get in touch! 

Thanks so much for popping by - it's always nice to share good news! Back soon with lots of projects showcasing products from the new catalogue and today's clean and simple post for our new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Until then, happy shopping!

Colours And Contours Rainbow Glimmer Congratulations Card PP551

by Joanne James25. July 2021 09:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Ann to host this week and she has my favourite, a sketch challenge for you to work with:

    

I had so many great ideas for this sketch! I also loved the rainbow of purples, blues and greens on that fabulous bird on the Color Dare inspiration photo, so decided to pair them with the stamp in the Colours & Contours set for a stem of rainbow flowers - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

Colours and Contours - I coloured the infill stamp of the main flower stem in the Colours & Contours stamp set using my sponge daubers and a trio of blue and purple inks, the cut it out with the co-ordinating die. I added it to a panel cut with one of the Scalloped Contours Dies (and narrowed slightly), having stamped the sentiment directly onto this panel. I added another sentiment and additional flower from the same set to the inside of my card:

 

Rainbow Glimmer - The rainbow of colours that I used enabled me to use some co-ordinating rainbow glimmer paper for my horizontal strips to compliment flowers. Whilst there's only a little of it visible, I love the addition of that sparkle and glimmer:

Pattern Party - In order to allow my glimmer paper to really stand out, I chose a piece of neutral black and white Pattern Party paper for my background. The Pattern Party paper pack is a hostess reward that you can earn with purchases of £150+ and is such great value with a great variety of patterns and designs too. 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day; I will be spending mine cooking and having a lazy day with the family. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.
 
This card was a Diamond Winner over at Color Dare this week!
 
 

Stampin' Up! 2021-22 Annual Catalogue Live and Host and Join Promotions Too

by Joanne James4. May 2021 07:00

The wait is over - it's May 4th and the new 2021-22 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue is here! You will find a permanent link to the new catalogue on the right hand side of my blog but for today you need look no further than the picture below which will take you straight to the new catalogue: 

The new catalogue is fantastic, with so many great new products to choose from. I've sent paper copies to everyone who has shopped with me in the last 6 months; a digital copy of the new catalogue can be accessed via the image above and it will be permanently linked via my blog on the right hand side if you don’t have a paper copy and wish to browse. If you have your paper copy and just want to go straight to the shop to place your order, click here - ordering systems have now fully transitioned from the old stock items to the new so you are good to go! Also, remember to add the current hostess code for May 6N4HU7SN if your order is less than £150 and ensure your preferences are set to 'contactable' to receive a thank you in the post from me.

There are also a couple of promotions that go live today to coincide with the launch of the new catalogue:

The first is the hostess promotion that I talked about in this post. As a reminder, you can earn an additional £20 of hostess rewards when you have party sales of £200 or more between May 4th - June 14th: 

 

Just because we are still experiencing some social distancing, doesn't mean we can't get together. If you would like to organise a virtual party with me, just let me know - numbers are unlimited and it can be a great way to connect with friends far and wide for a session of crafty fun! 

If your wishlist is long, you might also want to consider a cracking good join promotion that is running through the month of May too: 

It’s a fabulous time to join Stampin’ Up! From 4–31 May, new team members get even MORE FREE products in their customisable Starter Kit: new team members can get £130 £154 worth of products for only £99 + free business supplies + free shipping + all the fun being a part of Stampin’ Up! I would love to chat with you about the benefits of joining my team and being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator; as always, you can always find the link to join my team on the right hand side of my blog page; alternatively it's right here if you fancy jumping right in!

I also have a number of classes lined up in coming months featuring products from the new catalogue - the first of which are detailed below:

  • May 10th: Paper Pumpkin Bouquet of Hope Craft Along
  • May 24th: Monthly Class: Dragonfly Garden
  • June 21st: Monthly Class: Pansy Patch

Full details for these classes can be found on my Facebook Events Page  or alternatively under the 'Events/classes' tab on my website.

That's a lot of information for one post; if I were you I would put the kettle on, put your feet up and get comfy and settle down with your new catalogue for a browse and start creating that all-important wish list!

Back later this morning with today's creative post; until then, happy shopping!

New Online Exclusives

There are new products available exclusively in the online store from 5 November - check them out here.

Latest Kits!

Stampin Cut and Emboss

The Perpetual Beauty Calendar Kit and Cherry Blossoms Treat Boxes Kit are the latest kits in the online store - get yours here!

Shop Online

Access my online shop 24 x 7, 365 days of the year:

Current December hostess code:

9NKXDTTR

Shop Online

Mini Catalogue

BROWSE THE CATALOGUE

'Tis The Season - the new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue is here! For more details and to download your copy click here

Scrapbooking

Stampin' Up! has introduced a new range of 12x12" scrapbooking product and kit - the full range is now available to purchase online. To download a copy of the new digital Scrapbooking Catalogue click here.

2024-25 Annual Catalogue

BROWSE THE CATALOGUE

Click on the image to download your copy of the 2024-25 annual catalogue. For a full list of current SU! supplies, go to my online store. If you would like any help or advice, please drop me a line at joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk or give me a call on 07773 421446 - I'd be happy to help.

Join My Team

It's always a great time to join Stampin’ Up! New team members can get £130 worth of products for only £99 + free business supplies + free shipping + all the fun being a part of Stampin’ Up! Stampin' Up! has something for everyone: join my growing team and benefit from my support to enjoy Stampin' Up! however you choose.

If you're interested, call me for a chat to understand how I can help you realise your goals. Alternatively, if you have already decided to sign up and you just can't wait, please click here for the link to the online form where you can sign up and order your starter kit right away! 

About Me

Hi I'm Joanne and live in Northampton and when I'm not looking after my husband and two beautiful children, am an avid crafter with a passion for all things Stampin' Up!

I must confess that I have never been a big rubber stamper - until I discovered Stampin' Up! that is. I love the fact that I can get such great results with co-ordinating stamps, inks, papers and punches - the possibilities are endless! Join me on my stamping journey as I share the things I love and be inspired to create amazing things yourself!

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Kits Collection Now Available!

Stampin Cut and Emboss

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Click here to see the current kits available and order yours online today.

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This is my personal blog and is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up! I hope you find it a plentiful source of ideas and personal inspiration but please don't copy my designs for contest submission or use for classes, publication or sale without express permission.

DSP Special Release

Check out 3 popular designer series paper designs in fresh new colourways! Available exclusively in the online store from 3 December - check them out here

Last Chance Products

Last Chance Products will now be updated every other month - check them out here.